Saudis mass executions, including cleric

Thanks, LL. I wonder if that is why, though Iran is obviously a fairly strict theocracy-democracy, it isn't as barking mad as some other Islamic states, and hasn't turned it's back on science, conservation, medicine, etc? Or is it just because they are Shia, and less inclined to barking madness than Sunnis?

bb1 wrote:Thanks, LL. I wonder if that is why, though Iran is obviously a fairly strict theocracy-democracy, it isn't as barking mad as some other Islamic states, and hasn't turned it's back on science, conservation, medicine, etc? Or is it just because they are Shia, and less inclined to barking madness than Sunnis?

Saudi Arabi is a state on a par with England up to the time when Charles ll ascended the throne and the country became, and still is, a constitutional monarchy. The king of SA has the same powers the Russian Tsars had before the Russian Revolution, ie total powers of life and death over his subjects - N Korea is a perfect modern example of this. LL

I do know that Iranians are not Arabs and I was meaning Saudis as I had been mentioning them before that. Sorry. Sometimes I string things together that should not be.......

I have visited and met many people from most of those countries LL listed.

Some of them, like in the UAE, are commonly known as 'benign dictatorships".

No worries, Lily.

Saudi does seem to be especially dreadful; it doesn't even have much of a history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia

It's not like the UAE countries, which have had trading links with the rest of the world for millennia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates


The earliest known human habitation in the UAE dated from 5500 BC, but finds of flint tools could date the first human habitation of the UAE's western coast to 130,000 years ago.[19] At this early stage, there is proof of interaction with the outside world, particularly with civilizations to the northwest in Mesopotamia.

It really is, Bonny.  On my way to and from KSA I remember sitting in the upstairs lounge with flight attendants and we had wonderful conversations on how they felt.  Not one of them lived in their native country.  They felt very oppressed at home but obviously conformed.  About 20 minutes before landing they were notified to change out of their uniforms and put on their abayas.  They looked so sad after that.

The Saudi Princess who sat next to me on another trip from the US to London talked to me about her life and other females in the family.  She loved it as she spent her life traveling around the globe and staying in one of the many family homes.  Her cousin was the lady who was in the news about driving in her country.  She was so thrilled for her and hoped it would help other females to drive there.

Arab countries are very tribal.

Thanks Bonny.

Today's anti-Saudi riots in Iran:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-01-03/oil-spike-risk-iran-police-use-water-cannon-angry-protesters-near-saudi-consulate



Lots of photos at link.

This is getting even more interesting........waiting for the next development.

If ISIS wants its own state, why not just give them Saudi Arabia, on condition they STAY THERE. There's little difference between them and the Saudis anyway, and the Saudis have been bankrolling them.

I guess they would go for that on the condition that they kept the House of Saud in place?

House of Saud probably wouldn't go for it, Lily, as it would mean the end of all those hookers, sports cars and drugs when they're out of their own country.

Many of the younger ones are way out of control.

Oh my! Getting uglier by the hour.....

All those Western leaders - like Obama and Cameron - who have been kow-towing to the Saudis must be in a real panic right this minute.

Between Russia acting in Syria, Erdogan going full Nazi Caliph, and the Saudis seemingly going round the bend, their whole house of cards is collapsing.

Sure looks like it, Bonny. Wonder what will happen next......

I shudder to think, Lily. Nothing good, that will improve the lot of humanity, that's for sure. Unless somehow the House of Saud can be overthrown without bloodshed - I would love to know how many Western politicians they have bought over the years.

Saudi:

The Kingdom has a total population of 28.7 million, of which 20 million are Saudi nationals and 8 million are foreigners.[13][14][15]

Iran:

With 78.4 million inhabitants, Iran is the world's 17th-most-populous country.

Wiki:

Saudi Arabia has one of the highest percentages of military expenditure in the world, spending more than 10% of its GDP in its military. The Saudi military consists of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, the Royal Saudi Air Force, the Royal Saudi Navy, the Royal Saudi Air Defense, the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG, an independent military force), and paramilitary forces, totaling nearly 200,000 active-duty personnel. In 2005 the armed forces had the following personnel: the army, 75,000; the air force, 18,000; air defense, 16,000; the navy, 15,500 (including 3,000 marines); and the SANG had 75,000 active soldiers and 25,000 tribal levies. [239] In addition, there is an Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah military intelligence service.

=====

The Islamic Republic of Iran has two types of armed forces: the regular forces Islamic Republic of Iran Army, Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the Revolutionary Guards, totaling about 545,000 active troops. Iran also has around 350,000 Reserve Force totaling around 900,000 trained troops.[198] Iran has a paramilitary, volunteer militia force within the IRGC, called the Basij, which includes about 90,000 full-time, active-duty uniformed members. Up to 11 million men and women are members of the Basij who could potentially be called up for service; GlobalSecurity.org estimates Iran could mobilize "up to one million men". This would be among the largest troop mobilizations in the world.[199] In 2007, Iran's military spending represented 2.6% of the GDP or $102 per capita, the lowest figure of the Persian Gulf nations.[200] Iran's military doctrine is based on deterrence.[201] In 2014 arms spending the country spent $15 billion and was outspent by the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council by a factor of 13.[202]

Iran supports the military activities of its allies in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon (Hezbollah) with thousands of rockets and missiles.[203]

Since the 1979 Revolution, to overcome foreign embargoes, Iran has developed its own military industry, produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, guided missiles, submarines, military vessels, guided missile destroyer, radar systems, helicopters and fighter planes.[204] In recent years, official announcements have highlighted the development of weapons such as the Hoot, Kowsar, Zelzal, Fateh-110, Shahab-3 and Sejjil missiles, and a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).[205] The Fajr-3 (MIRV) is currently Iran's most advanced ballistic missile, it is a liquid fuel missile with an undisclosed range which was developed and produced domestically

This has the possibility of getting really ugly......

The ayatollas aren't holding back...

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/04/444441/Iran-AmoliLarijani-Saudi-Arabia-Nimr-/

Iran's Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli-Larijani has slammed Saudi Arabia’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, saying all conflicts in the region can be traced back to the Saudi regime.

“The Muslim world, today, is witnessing numerous crimes [committed] by Saudis in different regions and in all [instances of] belligerency happening in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain, Saudis’ fingerprint and their support for terrorists are seen,” Amoli-Larijani said on Monday.

He added that Saudi rulers hatch “the most evil plots” on behalf of hegemonic powers and colonialists, saying “undoubtedly, their crimes in Syria, Iraq and Yemen will serve the interests of Israel and the US.”

Western countries are mistaken to think that they can establish a foothold in the Muslim world by supporting Saudi rulers, said the Iranian judiciary chief.

He further added that the move by Saudi Arabia to execute Sheikh Nimr is a sign that the Al Saud regime is “on the verge of collapse.”..etc.

Following SA's orders that Iranian diplomats leave there within hours, Bahrain has ordered the same. Sudan has expelled the Iranian ambassador and the UAE has downgraded diplomatic ties with Iran. LL

As far as I am concerned, LL, any country with a shred of decency should be breaking off relations with Saudi over this.

Can you imagine the outcry if, say, Russia or Israel had shot/decapitated over forty people in one day, on the most dubious of grounds? Including someone who, as far as I can make out, has never preached violence?

The hypocrisy is sickening - must be a lot of Saudi $$$$$$$$$ in Western political pockets.